Two little words can truly change your life.  The best part about it – they can change the lives of those to whom you say it as well.

 

I spent much of my life having everything I wanted…but somehow always feeling empty enough to want more.  If I saw something I wanted, I bargained to get it.  If I couldn’t quite afford it, I would devise a way to acquire it as soon as possible.  Such is the life of many in the instant gratification society in which we live.

 

While I’ve often been “a giver”, I’ve also taken plenty…probably more than my fair share.  But when that great life started cracking under the pressures of “what more is there”, it was evident my attention had been a bit too focused on me, and not enough on what others were doing to help me along the way.  As that faulty vision I’d developed unraveled, I realized I was a pretty lonely guy surrounded by tons of friends…an extraverted introvert who had been so inwardly focused, so selfish…it was no wonder life was empty.

 

I remember a few years ago when I first took the time to say “thank you” – it almost startled the person to whom I said it.  Mom just kept going on about what it was she was doing and tried to play it off.  I stopped her and said, “seriously…thank you…for all you do.”  It was a game-changer…then and there life changed.

 

Princess Elizabeth Bibesco once wrote, “Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.”  I had had it all backwards.  I always knew who owed me what, but rarely remembered who had given me even the most special of gifts.  As a father, I spend so much time pummeling my kids with “Say Thank you!” and “What do you say?!!” yet I didn’t live by example all that well.

 

When I noticed the game-changer…things got sweeter.  It’s almost like those two words breathed life into both the object of my gratitude, and likewise into my own spirit.  I began paying closer attention to life.  I focused on what it meant to have “an attitude of gratitude”.  I tried watching for things that sat just so in my spirit that I wanted to express thanks.  Those places where I’d felt lonely in a crowd of friends were transformed into some of the greatest friendships I could imagine.

 

I personally believe Ralph Waldo Emerson summed up the best way to start: “When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive.”  Start your day in gratitude and watch your life change.  Even better than that – watch the lives of those around you change.  Saying “thank you” has undeniable “pay-it-forward” effects over time.

 

For those of you who identify with this, let me share with you the song I heard tonight amongst my 1300+ songs on iTunes.  There’s a really old song from all the way back in the 1980s…ha…by Christian recording artist Russ Taff.  I’ll admit I don’t have much of that genre on my iTunes, but this song has a very special meaning to me now.  The song is called “Take my hand”.  If you’re lonely in your world, look around to those who love you…to those who stand beside you even when you wonder just why you’re feeling the way you do.  As the song says, “it’s a long road – we can walk it together.”  Life really is a gift – every morning we gaze out on the morning meadows, or the downtown buildings…or wherever – it’s a gift.  And guess what?  I’m happy to share it with each of you.

 

To all of you who read these things and support my brain-spasms, thank you.  To those of you whom I am closely endeared, whether by bloodline or friendship, thank you for taking my hand and walking this life journey with me.  I’m here whenever you need a hand – we’ll walk through whatever it is together.

 

Blessings

Tim

 

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“Take My Hand” by Russ Taff

 

I wanna walk with you

You know we’re all taught to be strong

We’re all taught to stand on our own

But it helps to have somebody

To hold on to

 

We’re all on the same journey

To find the way home

And I think we need each other

If we’re gonna get through

Why don’t you

 

Take my hand

And let’s walk together

Take my hand and try

It’s a long road

But we can walk it together

 

Life’s the greatest gift He gave

And I want to share it with You

Walk with me

 

Every year I watch the seasons change

But I’m never ready when people change

You see, I’ve had friends

That just drifted out of my life

Cause I never took time

But I do know this

If they were standing here tonight

I’d tell ’em

 

Take my hand

And let’s walk together

Take my hand and try

It’s a long road

But we can help each other

 

He said “Love one another”

We may not have tomorrow

Lord help us to hold on to each other

 

Life’s the greatest gift He gave

And I want to share it with you

Come walk with me

 

Take my hand

And let’s walk together

Take my hand and try

It’s a long, long road

But we can help each other

Hold on

I know we’re gonna find the way home